Ship&#39;s windlass.



No. 708,455. Patented Sept. 2, I902. c. w. BLAKE.

SHIPS WINDLASS.

(Application filed May 11, 1901.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

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\ C. W. BLAKE.

SHIPS WINDLASS.

(Application filed May 11, 1901.)

Patented Sept. 2, I902.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. 708,455. Patented Sept. 2, I902. C. W. BLAKE.

SHIPS WINDLASS.

(Application filed May 11, 1901.) (No Model.)

4 Sheets'-S heet 3.

3 56 a 71s 7d 6 4 4 76 x 9 7 n as 4-1 0 J r 7 Q i4 7 25' JQ 0 J74? 2 j M,11 ir J No.708,455. Patented Sept. 2, I902. C. W. BLAKE. SHIPSWINDLASS.

(Application filed May 11, 1901.) (No Model.) 4 Sheats$heat 4.

4 J5 74 JZ IJ J 16; a 4 a 2 3C 4 a a Wiigesses 19309101 I a; by 6%011534456 Nrrnn STATES ATENT rrtcnt CHARLES WV. BLAKE, OF PORT REPUBLIC,NEW JERSEY.

SHlPS WINDLASS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,455, datedSeptember 2, 1902.

Application filed May 1l,190l. $eria1 No 59,782. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. BLAKE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Port Republic, in the countyof Atlantic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Ships Windlasses, &c.; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

cat, chain-wheel, or other revoluble power element which is cushioned byfluid-pressure compensating mechanism, so as to pay out the haWser orchain when strain is exerted thereon by the surging influence of thewaves on the vessel and so take up the slack in said hawser or chainwhen the strain is eased. While such prior devices are efficient and arewell adapted for vessels having an available supply of steam or otherpressure fluid, yet there are many places where the fluid-pressuresupply is not available and still it is desired to use an appliancecapable of giving the compensating action to the hawser 0r cable bymechanical devices acting alone and independently of fluid-pressure.

The object of the present invention is to provide mechanical applianceswhich Will compensate for or neutralize sudden or abrupt strains orjerking motion-for. example, such as is'produced by the surge of the seaor as in weighing anchorin orderto guard against the parting or breakingof the hawser, the chain, or the Windlass.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ships appliance whichshall have its cooperating parts so arranged that when the strain issuch as to exhaust the compensation action of the primary load-take-upmember or element, which makes an allowance for a certain amount ofstress or strai non the hawser or chain, an additional or reserve compensating action will be subsequentlybrought into service through asubsequently-effective and normally-inactive inember or element, thusmaking provision for taking up the maximum stress or strain to which thechain, hawser; or apparatus may be subjected.

To the accomplishment of these ends my inventionconsists, broadly, inthe combination, with a shaft, of a compensating loadtake-up membercarried by the shaft, and a subsequently-effective member also carriedby the shaft and brought into service by the turning movement of theshaft itself under stress or strain on the primary member beyond thecompensating capacity of said member.

The invention further consists in the combination, with a shaft, of aprimary loadtake-up member having a shaft-section made a fast with theshaft and a yieldingly-cushioned rim-section operatively related to saidshaftsection to be capable of a limited turning movement relativethereto, and a normallyinactive yieldable member having a shaftsectionalso fast with the shaft and a cushioned rim-section capable of alimited yieldable play relative to the shaft member, said sections ofthe normally-inactive member being brought into service through thereverse action of the shaft itself and under stress or strain on theload-take-up member beyond its compensating capacity. Each of saidmembers, the load-take-up member and the normally inactive subsequentlyeffective member, are provided with springs or equivalent' cushiondevices; but to secure the best results the springs of thesubsequently-effective member may be of higher tension than the springsof the load-take-up member, or said springs of thesubsequently-effective member may be placed at a greater radial distancefrom the shaft than the springs of the load-take-up member.

The invention further consists in a novel and peculiar construction ofthe load-take-up member, and a like construction of the powergear, whichforms the subsequently-effective or normally-inactive member.

The invention further consists in the novel organization, with theload-take-up member, of a clutch mechanism which is intimately that theprinciple may be utilized in connection with drums, capstans,winch-heads, and other revoluble elements other than the particular formof wildcat or chain-wheel shown by the drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of so much of a ships Windlass, preferablyof the wildcat type, as is necessary to disclose the preferredembodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectiontaken in the plane indicated by the dotted line w a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 3is a longitudinal section taken in plane of the Windlass-shaft. Fig. 4is an enlarged detailed View showing the yielding or cushioned partsforming the power-gear which constitutes the subsequently-effective ornormally-inactive member of the compensating mechanism. Fig. 5 is asimilar view of the parts comprising the wildcat or chain-wheel thatforms the primary load-take-up member.

The same letters and numerals are used to indicate like andcorresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

1 designates the shaft, which is mounted in suitable bearings on thebed-plate of the machine.

2 is the wildcat or chain-wheel, and 3 is the power-gear, the latteradapted to be driven from a shaft or from an engine of any suitable kindfor the purpose of driving the shaft 1 and of thereby rotating thewildcat or chainwheel 2, so as to wind a chain, cable, or hawser on thewildcat or its equivalent. In the appended description I shall set forthmy invention as embodied in a riding or anchorage Windlass for use onships in controlling and handling the anchor-chain; but it is to beunderstood that the principle of the shaft and the reversely-actingmembers may be utilized in the construction of other machines orapparatus wherein provision must be made for taking up the maximumstress or strain of a hawser, cable, or chain. It is to be understood,furthermore, that the wildcat or chain- Wheel 2 constitutes the primarymember or the load-take-up member, from the fact that the strain of thehawser or chain is exerted directly thereon; furthermore,that thepowergear 3 constitutes the subsequently-effective compensating member,which when driven in one direction is adapted to propel the shaft 1 andthe chain-wheel 2; but when the shaft is turned in a backward directionby an excessive strain on the primary member 2 said member 3 is adaptedto bring into the train of connections a reserve compensating actionsuiiicient, in connection with the resistance of the primary member 2,to successfully withstand the maximum strain that may be brought uponthe member 2 through its chain 7 For the purposes of the present bleconnection so employed-as, for example,

if a cable is used a drum with grooves may be employed in lieu of thechain-wheel.

I will first 'proceed to describe in detail the.

chain-Wheel or wildcat 2, which is shown more particularly by Figs. 1,3, and 5 of the drawings. This wildcat is not made in one solid piece,as is common in the art, but is divided into sections 2 2 both of whichare loosely mounted on the shaft 1. The section 2 is formed with aperipheral groove or deep channel adapted for the reception of the chainin the usual manner. The sections 2 2 forming-the compensating wildcat,are disposed on the shaft in close lateral relation, and said sectionsare provided on their opposing faces with hub-like extensions or bosses,which ex tend toward each other and serve to keep said sections in thedesired laterally-spaced relation. The hub or boss of the extension 2 isindicated at 7 in Fig. 3, while the hub or section of the section 2 isindicated at 6in the same figure. The sections 2 2 are further providedon their opposing faces with the lugs or segments 2 2, one series ofsaid lugs being on the section 2 and the other series being on the othersection 2 One series of lugs on one section is disposed in alternaterelation to the other series of lugs on the other section,

and the lugs of the two series are disposed in the overlapping andspaced relation shown more clearly by Fig. 5 of the drawings. The twoseries of lugs on the companion sections of the wildcat are spacedbetween some of their edges, so as toallow the section 2 to have alimited movement relative to the other section 2"; but normally theparts are kept in active relation throughthe resistance of the cushiondevices 5, which are preferably in the form of coiled springs, althoughblocks of rubber or other compressible material may be employed.Asshown, the springs 5 have their ends seated in sockets 5, provided inthe lugs of one of the Wildcat-sections, while their other ends areseated in sockets 5", provided in the lugs of the other companionsection, whereby the springs are retained in place by the sockets, andthey are adapted to be compressed when the section 2 is subjected tostrain of the chain fitted in the groove thereof. When the wildcat orchainwheel is propelled by the shaft, the strain of the shaft is exertedthrough the clutch on the shaft-section 2 to drive the latter in thedirection indicated by the arrows in Fig. 5, and to minimize the jarringeffect of the shaftsection 2, acting against the grooved member 2 Iemploy the compressible cushions 4!, which are interposed between thoseedges of the two series of lugs on the companion sections of the wildcatwhich are not occupied by the cushion orcompensatingsprings 5. Thesecompressible cushions 1 also reduce the jar and strain exerted by thelugs of the member 2 on the lugs of the companion member 2 when theparts resume their normal relations following the relaxation of thestrain of the chain on the section 2. The section 2 is provided with anannular rim or flange 4c, disposed to inclose or house the two series oflugs, the compensating springs, and the cushions which. are disposedbetween the lugs for service in the manner described. The other section2 is provided with a flange or rim 8, having at suitable intervals thenotches or openings 8, which are adapted to partially receive the dogsof the clutch mechanism, which I will now proceed to describe. Saidflange 8 projects from that side or face of the member 2 opposite tothat face having the lugs 2 as shown by full lines in Fig. 1 and bydotted lines in Fig. 3.

9 designates a clutch head or disk which is fitted on the shaft next tothe section 2 of the wildcat, and this head or disk ismade fast with theshaft by means of a suitable key orspline, as shown by Fig. 3. This heador disk is formed with a step 9 of small diameter, said step beingprovided on the peripheral edge of the head which lies remote to thewildcat. On this step is loosely mount: ed a clutch-dog shifter in theform of a camring 10, which is adapted to be turned by hand on the heador disk. This cam-ring is provided with the external spiral ribs 10,

adapted to be loosely engaged with the clutchdogs 12, and the cam-ring10 is furthermore provided with the sockets 10*, into either of whichmay be inserted a hand-bar, which is adapted to partially turn the ringon the clutch-head. That part of the clutch-head which exceeds the step9 in diameter forms an annular flange 11, which is formed at suitableintervals with the slots or openings 11, adapted for the passage of theclutch-dogs 12. Upon the periphery of the cam-ring are arranged a numberor series of sliding dogs 12, which are let into transverse recesses orseats 12 in the head or disk 9, said dogs bement with the section 2 ofthe wildcat, and the two sections of the wildcat are thus allowed toturn or rotate idly upon the shaft. The clutch-dogs 12 and the cam-ribs10 of the cam-ring are connected together by arranging the ribs 10 tofit snugly in the grooves 12, which are provided in the under sides ofthe dogs 12, thus making provision for clutching the wildcat to orunclutching it from the shaft 1. The two sections 2 2 of the wildcat maybe coupled rigidly together by means of the plug or key 13, adapted tobe inserted into registering recesses or notches 13, which are producedin the two parts or sections of the wildcat, whereby the sections areprevented from having any compensating movement relative to each other,which is desirable in the service of the Windlass when thevesselisanchored in harbors, rivers, or other comparatively still bodiesof water. The power-gear 3, which is carried by the shaft 1 at a pointadjacent to the clutch head or disk 9, consists of two concentricmembers 3 3 The shaft-section 3 is of annular or ring-like form, asshown by Fig. 4, and is disposed in concentric surrounding relation.Like the wildcat 2, the power-gear has its separate sections 3 3provided with series of lugs or segments 33,arranged for thelugs of onesection to occupyan overlapping relation to the lugs of the othersection, as also shown by Fig. 4. The two series of lugs on the sectionsof the power-gear are provided with the cushionsprings 5, let intosockets 5 of the lugs in a manner similar to the wildcat, and thebackto-back edges of said lugs forming the two series havecushion-strips at. The rim-section 3 of the power-gear is formed with acontinuousseries of bevel-gear teeth It, as shown by Figs. 1 and 3, withwhich is adapted to mesh a bevel-gear on a driving-shaft or amotor-shaft for the propulsion of the gear 3 as an entirety, and thisgear is limited by suitable detents or pawls to turn in the directionindicated by the arrows in Fig. 4t, so that the strips 4 will becompressed by and between the lugs 3 3, thus relieving to a considerableextent the strain or pressure on the compensating springs 5 of said gear3. The motion of the rim-section 3 is thus given directly to theshaft-section 3, which is made fast with the shaft, so as to turn thelatter, and when the-wildcat is engaged by the dogs 12 with theclutch-head the motion of the shaft is transmitted by the clutch to thewildcat for the purpose of driving the latter in a direction to coil ortake up the cable orchain on said wildcat. The sections 3 3 of thepower-gear are adapted to be coupled rigidly together by any suitablemeans, such as by the key or block 14, adapted to be fitted in theregistering recesses or notches 143 of the companion sections, thusuniting thesections in a manner to prevent the limited play of theshaft-section 3 relative to the rim-section 3". The rim-section 3 isfurthermore provided with a lateral circular extension3,

the same being of the annular shape shown by the drawings. This circularextension is provided on its outer or exposed face with a series ofteeth or serrations 3 which form a ratchet-surface around thepower-gear, and with this ratchet engages a series of detents or pawls 3the same being pivotally supported on a post or posts adjacent to thepower-gear or in other suitable ways. This ratchet-and-pawl devicecooperates to restrain the power-gear from rotating in abackwarddirection or opposite to the arrows of Fig. 4.

1t will be understood that the rim-section of the power-gear may beprovided with other forms of gear-teeth than the bevel-teeth hereinshown and also that this power-gear may be driven by any means otherthan by the gearing heretofore described.

The wildcat has one of its members provided with a brake-surface 16,which is encompassed by a brake-band 15, the latter having one endsecured to the bed of the machine, while the other end of the band isconnected to a lever 17, suitably placed for the operation of the brakemechanism. It is evident that the wildcat when disconnected from theclutch may turn freely and rapidly on the shaft 1 in order to pay outthe chain when casting the anchor; but the speed of rotation of thewildcat may be retarded by the application of the brake mechanism in anobvious manner.

It is obvious that the wildcat may be unclutched from the shaft 1 andcontrolled by the brake when it is desired to drop the anchor, thusallowing the chain to be paid out at the desired speed, the wildcatrunning freely on the shaft. Said wildcat can be arrested or stopped atany time by forcible application of the brake, and the strain, howevergreat, is brought on the yieldable wildcat and, through the shaft, onthe powergear, thus compensating for the strain and obviating theliability of breakage of the parts, thereby securing a result notpossible with other forms of riding-gears known to me. When the ship isat anchor, the strain on the cable due to the surging of the sea and themotion of the ship is taken up by the springs of the wildcat within thecapacity of the latter, and under such conditions the strain on thechain turns the rim-section in an opposite direction to the arrow inFig. 5, thereby compressing the springs. Again, if the ship should haveheadway and be in a narrow or dangerous place the paying or running outof the chain can be stopped sud-v denly, throwing the surge or strain onthe spring-cushioned wildcat, and under some circumstances on the gear,thus avoiding all danger of parting the chain or of damage to otherparts.

It will be observed that where the strain may be so great as to exhaustthe compensating action or capacity of the wildcat,which makes anallowance of three inches of slack in the chain, more or less, accordingto the size of the Windlass, the compensating action of the power-gearwill be brought into play, making an allowance of an additional threeinches of slack, more or less, thus providing a strength equal to aboutfive (5) tons above the parting or breaking point of the cable or chain.This bringing into service of the subsequently eifective section ormember is brought about through the agency of the shaft on which thewildcat and the powergear are both mounted. In the service of thewildcat the sections thereof will be brought close together, so as tocompress the springs up to their capacity, and the two sections willturn together, and thereby turn the shaft 1. This motion of the shaft iscommunicated to the shaft-section 3 of the powergear, which will beturned by the shaft in an opposite direction to the arrow in Fig. 4, andas the rim-section 3 of the power-gear is held by the pawls from turningin a backward direction the springs 5 of the power-gear will becompressed by and between the lugs of the companion sections of thepower-gear. On relaxation of the sudden or excessive strain the springsreturn the sections of the powergear and of the wildcat to their normalpositions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a shaft,of a compensating load-take-up member thereon, and asubsequently-effective member controlled by the shaft and brought intoservice thereby under excessive strain on the first-named member. I

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination ofashaft, a compensating load-take-up member, and a driving compensatingmember operatively connected through the shaft with the first member todrive the latter in one direction and subsequently brought into serviceby the take-up member under excessive strain, thereon.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of ashaft, a compensating load-take-up member thereon, and a drivingcompensating member connected to the shaftfor propelling the latter andthe load member and adapted to be brought into service through reversemotion of the shaftunder strain which exhausts the compensating capacityof the load member.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of ashaft, a loadtake-up member thereon, a compensating driving member onthe shaft, and means for limiting the driving member to rotation in onedirection.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of ashaft, a loadtake-up member idly mounted thereon, a clutch arranged tomake one section of said load member fast with the shaft, and acomranged to be brought into service through backward motion of theshaft.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of ashaft, a twopart load-take-up member having one section made fast to theshaft and said parts adapted to have a limited turning movement relativeto one another, and a two-part cushioned drivlng member, one part ofwhich is fast with the shaft and adapted, on backward movement of theshaft, to automatically bring the cushions into service.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of ashaft, a twopart cushioned load member thereon, and a two-partpower-gear having cushion devices arranged to be brought into service bythe backward motion of the shaft.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of ashaft, a twopart cushioned load member thereon, a twopart power-gearhaving cushion devices and fitted to said shaft, and means to restrainthe power-gear from turning in a backward direction.

S). In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with ashaft, of a compensating member having two sections, one of which isrevoluble with the shaft and the other is provided with a ratchet, apawl engaging said ratchet, and cushion devices between the sectionsofsaid member.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with ashaft, of a compensating member having two sections and intermediatecushion devices between said sections, a clutch for making one sectionfast with the shaft, a brake-surface on one section of the member, and amovable brake element in cooperative relation to the brakesurface andadapted to control the rotation of the member when unclutched from theshaft.

11. The combination with a shaft, of a wildcat or chain-wheel comprisinga member loose on the shaft and provided on one side witha series oflugs or abutments and on its other side with a laterally-extendingcoupling-section, and a companion member also idly fitted to the shaftand provided with lugs or abutments disposed in opposing relation to thecorresponding lugs on the first-named member, cushion devices betweenthe opposing lugs of the two members. a clutch-head fast with the shaft,a series of locking-dogs slidably mounted in the clutch-head andarranged for engagement with the coupling-section of one shaft member,and a cam-ring carried by the clutch-head and engaging with saidlocking-dogs.

12. The combination with a shaft, of awildcat or chain-wheel havingcompanion members both fitted loosely on said shaft, said members beingprovided on their opposing sides or faces with lugs or abutments whichare projected laterally into opposing relation, aseries ofcushion-springs each fitted between two of the faces of a pair of lugsin the respective members to cushion the relative movement thereof whenthe wildcat turns in one direction, a series of other cushion deviceseach fitted between other opposing faces of the pair of abutments of therespective members to cushion the relative movement thereof when thewildcat turns in the opposite direction, and means for making one memberof the wildcat fast with the shaft.

13. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a drivenshaft, a wildcat or wheel adapted to receive the stress or strain of achain or hawser and comprisingsecltions movable one within the plane ofthe other and springs arranged between said sections,

and a clutch or coupling comprising a disk fixed or keyed to said shaft,a cam-ring carried by said disk, and lugs or dogs actuated by saidcam-ring and carried by said disk and engaging said wildcat or wheel,substantially as set forth.

14:. A wildcat loosely supported upon a driven shaft, and having alateral couplingsection provided with internal abutments and anindependent, movable coupling-section connected to said shaft as againstrotation and having counterpart abutments yieldingly connected to theaforesaid abutments, and a movable ring mounted upon one of saidsections and having a spiral peripheral rib and a dog engaging said riband the other one of said sections,substantially as set forth.

15. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a drivenshaft and a wildcat or wheel adapted to receive thereon the stress orstrain of a chain or hawser, and comprising sections .or parts movableone with the other and springs arranged between said sections, and alocking plug or key engaging sockets or openings in the sections of saidwildcat to couple or connect up said sections, substantially as setforth.

16. A wildcat loosely supported upon a driven shaft, and comprisingyieldingly--connected-together sections, a power-gear fixed upon saidshaft and comprising yieldinglyconnected-together sections, and acoupling device for effecting connection between said wildcat-sectionsand said shaft, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES ,IV. BLAKE. l/Vitnesses:

SETH V. Pack, A. O. GARRETT.

